Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1887-10-23
Bbselins Resister
INGERSOLL AT HOME.
KLLA WHEELER WILCOX DESCRIBES fHB
GRBAT ORATORS PRIVATE LIFE
His Wifi and Fanily-A Home Of Fllal AHscaOn-
HIS Bslisfs and Their EFees-fhs GOOd De
Has Done-Wsalth Of Language
and Conversation.
copyrighted, 1871


the home seems to snvelOP you.
believe every house is strongly impreg-
mated with the mental and spiritual eondi-
ton ofits inmates, just a. garments reveal
the shape and form OF their wearers.
once entered house filed with rich
hanpings and elegant furniture. All that
money and good taste could do was done
In render it a bower of beauty. But felt
as if chilled by a cold fog when l passed
tbrouyb its wide and splendid halls. There
were discordaut and inhsrmonious ele-
ments in that house. 1t was not home,
in the true sense of the word. Its mem
hers were divided among themselves, and
their unhappy feelings generated current
which affected every sensihVely organized
person who entered the door.
Unfortunately, not every so-calied CHRIS
ton household il home. knew family
who INDUCED in morning and evening
PRAYERS, and were strict in attendance at
church. Yet the daughters quarrelled
with each other, we're impudent to their
mother. and the father was constantly ind
ing fault with the most trivial household
affairs.
To such men certainly the beautiful
home-lite of Robert IDgersOn IS q severe
rebuke.
The first time / saw Mrs. IngersOll, l
said to a friend, "She looks like much
lOrsd woman"
People who receive great deal of love
and oood care usually show the evidence OF
II. inst as a iOyeless, harrassed life reveals
its starved and pitiful condition, no matter
how il NAV seek TO disguise the fact.
Mrs. Ingersoll radiates happiness and con-
tent. She looks up into the beaming,
iovial face of her husband with an express
sion which tells its own story-lt b so fuL
ofhappy gratitude and sweet affection.
The two fair daughters are like rays Of
sunlight emanating from this union. One
of the girls looks like young goddess, and
possesses an exquisite voice IN song l
heard Americas greatest ballad-maker say
RECENTLY that no world's-iamous dlrd ever
gave him the peculiar pleasure he found in
listening to Miss IngersolPs singing.
'sNot a highly cultivated or powerful
voice" he said, "but possessed OF that sub
tie magnetism which sends the little thrills
creeping up and down your spine.
l never saw q sweeter household l
never before saw so much atfeetionate rev.
erence exhibited by wife and children to-
ward any man.
1t seems pity that this great orator,
whose daily life at home and among hu-
manity is q religion in itself, should be
quoted as their leader by brainless men
who live only to make the world wicked.
Let me saw right here that l earnestly
and confidently believe in a future life, In
the efficacy of prayer, and in some mode o.
punishment in the next existence for sinful
souls who have escaped il here. Yet l be-
Heye Robert Iugersoll has done the world
a great deal of good by hurting his thunder
bolts OF irony against the closed doors OF
narrow creeds.
As that remarkable girl poet, Lizette
Woodwork Reese, has said in her wonder
ful eAuplet,
"Creeds grow 81 thick along the way,
Their bOughs hide GOd-I cannot pray
But Robert Ingersoll in his sarcastic de-
nunciations Of WORKOUT theological dog
mas, in his ridicule of the Old-iashiOned
hell of burning birthstone, aud in his
earnest plea ~ men to worship the "D;-
vinity within themselves, " has only helped
to cut away the boughs which obstructed
our view, and allowed rs to see God more
clearly in the world about us.
lie has compelled the christian churches
to broaden their cTeedS, and to preach
more love and less fear from the pulpit.
The most prejndiced bigOt daces not offer
an intelligent congregation to-day the
theories which were served tOus undiluted
with r,,.,snn fifteen ye1rS avn
am convinced that greater credit IL due
to Robert IUgersOll ioC this result than to
all other causes
Yet, on the other hand, he has done \
great deal Of harm.
Phere is, unfortunately, more ignorance
than intelligence in the world. A great
many cOsrse-grained and lOw-impulsed
people, unable to grasp the idea OF high
morality which he teaches, merely seize
at his no hell" theories, chuckle over bis
blows at creeds, and quote him as their
teacher and guide II rebuked for their
vicious. immoral, aud ungndly lives, they
say they are followers of Bob IngerSOll >
and don't believe IN no religion nohOw -
All his illustrations Of noble manhood,
strict morality, and never-eelsing benevo-
lence are lost On this brutal herd, who are
only able To understand that he is great
man, and that he SCOTS at creedS.
Many young people claim to study and
follow the methods OF Byron, of Browning,
OF Swinburue. Byron INDUCED freely in
poetical license aud faulty rhymes. Brown
ing is mystical and often labOred. Swim.
burne given to over-much ALTERATION and
sensuousness. But the great thought aud
wit of Byron, the prOfuudity and master
workmanship of Browning, the splendor
aud gorgeOusuess of Swinburne's style, all
render these faults excusable.
The young poet who has neither wit,
depth, nor originality copies the Poeticsl
license, the va.uenesS, or the sensuOus
ness, ard says he has but followed the
masters.
Just 30, many young men believe they
are followers OF Robert IngerSOlL With
no comprehension of the mans great brain,
greater heart and profoundly moral life,
they ape his seepticism of ereeds, his scorn
Of priestly rites and ceremonies, and in the
midst Of viciOuSneSs declare themselves
converts TO Ingersollism."
l hold this iudisputable fact 10 be q great
misfortune to the world. But that his ear
nest desire and aim is to better and broaden
humanity sincerely believe
Colonel Ingerson gives more Of his splen-
did strength to tumbliDg down error than
to building up pedestals for truth.
II he would say more about his belief in
the need of fine principles and less about
the uselsSsneSs Of piety; if he would give
US two words for morality to one against
hell fire, he would accomplish more good
in the world.
A skilful physician knows that q dis
esssd system needs tOning after purging.
Colonel IngersOll gives Us too much blue
mass, and not enough tonic.
He eleanSes Us from error, but he does
not give US much TO brace up our shattered
nerves
He sends up his magnificent cOnversa-
tional fireworks, not caring where the
sparks fall.
His conversation is a noble poem. His
speech string of glittsripg pearls. Ian